Australian police charge 6 men with smuggling drugs from Colombia

SYDNEY – Australian police say six men have been charged in Sydney with drug smuggling and that more than 580 kilograms (1,280 pounds) of cocaine and methamphetamine have been seized in Colombia and Australia in a joint Australian-Colombian law enforcement operation.

An Australian law enforcement statement said Thursday that officials found 230 kilograms (507 pounds) of liquid methamphetamine worth 156 million Australian dollars ($122 million) hidden in 20,000 bottles of lemonade at a Sydney warehouse in December.

It said Colombian police found 253 kilograms (558 pounds) of cocaine hidden in boxes of flowers bound for Europe and Australia in January and February involving the same syndicate.

Five Australian men and a Spanish-Colombian dual citizen appeared in a Sydney court on Wednesday on drug trafficking charges. They face life imprisonment if convicted.